Clockwork Labs Discusses Conflict in BitCraft, From Empires to PvP, and Future Development

Recently, the BitCraft Online team shared a new devblog covering combat, including the core mechanics, character, empire, and settlement-level conflict, PvP, and how they’re working to reduce and handle griefing.

The Clockwork Labs team makes it clear that their focus is on skilling, “taming a dangerous wilderness” and cooperation in the blend of survival crafting and RPG elements. Yet, there are elements that will generate conflict. If they are going to have combat, feedback they got was to make it good and also feel good. The devs share a list of core combat mechanics that have, or will be, polished and expanded.

Currently, ahead of the Early Access launch next month, there is basic combat, monsters may threaten your settlement or get in the way of resource collection. This is the basis of their PvE content that they’re going to expand. Expect small scale dungeons, harder enemies, and the Monster Slayer skill, which has its own gear, progression path, and goals. 

Since  everyone shares the same world and are rebuilding civilization together, conflict is a part of things. The individual will find that collaboration is more rewarding. This is a move away from earlier builds, which intentionally “created friction” between players. Now you can take on challenges together, but the team also add PVP in the form of duels, a fully opt-in feature. Eventually, settlements may also have ways to compete in resource-based ways

Empires are about status in BitCraft, and conflict is about prestige, titles, and cosmetics. With duels between characters, they see a path to PVP in Empire sieges and potential for new roles in the player economy like mercenaries or bodyguards.

With conflict comes the potential for abuse, and they point to their claim system as one safeguard, and to adjustments to upkeep changes and making terraforming intentionally slower and faster to restore. If griefers do some damage, getting things back is going to be an option.

Clockwork Labs held a stream to discuss the conflict blot and future updates. You can watch above.